THE HERALD

Could Balgray be the solution for Warriors?
I write to suggest an alternative home for Glasgow Warriors.

If the SRU are serious about professional rugby, and they have to be for the sport to survive in Scotland, we all know that they need to turn Glasgow into a commercially viable entertainment product.

Moving to Stirling or Falkirk will only see supporter numbers dwindle further and this time next year we'll be having yet another review.

It's time to stop and think about turning Glasgow into a product that the public want to go and see, regardless if they are current followers of the game.

For too long, the SRU have taken the "if you build it they will come" approach. Quite simply that can't continue to happen - you must offer more.

I watched the Leicester game at the weekend and was amazed at how many Tigers' flags were in the crowd - there isn't even the opportunity to purchase such at a Glasgow game and if there is I haven't seen it.

When it comes to when and where Glasgow should play let's not muck about any longer. Make Friday nights rugby time in Glasgow, stick to it and build on it.

To that effect, why not consider developing Kelvinside Academy's ground, Balgray, as the replacement for Hughenden?

As a former pupil I'm aware that the school is currently raising money to redevelop the facilities at Balgray and I'm surprised the SRU haven't looked into piggy-backing on to this. Balgray would keep Glasgow within their established heartland of the West End. It could also address the issue of player facilities as highlighted in recent departures to France and England by building these on site.

Proper catering, media, merchandising and corporate entertaining facilities could also be built to generate vital revenue on match days and throughout the week.

With the current attendance there would be no need to suddenly create a 5000-seater stadium over the summer but surely the ground could be developed in stages alongside a viable commercial plan to build attendances. I'm sure I read that the SRU would invest in floodlights etc to create a ground if required.

Not so long ago, Kelvinside Academy were going to lease Balgray to Rangers, so there may be scope to discuss this.



Ken O'Callaghan via email

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This article was posted on 4-Apr-2007, 07:20 by Hugh Barrow.